Reconfigurable transmission for toy vehicles

Abstract

Electronic, motorized, battery-operated toy vehicles featuring interchangeable gears, wheels, and/or tires which may permit performance tuning without tools are disclosed. Features may include a translucent and/or transparent lower chassis, a programmable power switch, a try-me function, and/or internal lighting to illuminate gears and/or headlights. Some exemplary embodiments may include 1:20 scale plastic cars, for example.

1 . A transmission for a toy vehicle comprising
 a plurality of shafts mounted within a gear bay;   a plurality of adapters for rotatably mounting on the shafts; and   a plurality of replaceable gears for mounting on the adapters;   where the replaceable gears are rearrangeable to provide different gear ratios.   
     
     
         2 . The transmission of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the transmission includes an input gear driven by a motor and an output gear coupled to at least one wheel; and   wherein the replaceable gears are interconnected between the input gear and the output gear.   
     
     
         3 . The transmission of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one compound gear. 
     
     
         4 . The transmission of  claim 3 , wherein the compound gear includes a double-length adapter and at least two gears slidably assembled onto the double-length adapter. 
     
     
         5 . The transmission of  claim 4 , where the double-length adapter and the at least two gears are not readily separable. 
     
     
         6 . The transmission of  claim 5 , where the compound gear is integrally formed. 
     
     
         7 . The transmission of  claim 1 ,
 wherein at least one of the plurality of shafts receives at least two of the plurality of adapters, each of the two adapters receiving a respective on of the replaceable gears; and   wherein each of the two adapters is independently rotatable.   
     
     
         8 . The transmission of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of shafts extend into the gear bay in an orientation substantially orthogonal to a front-to-back line of the toy vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . The transmission of  claim 1 , wherein the gears are rotatable in a substantially horizontal plane when they are installed on the shafts. 
     
     
         10 . The transmission of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the output gear is coupled to an adapter extending into the gear bay; and   wherein the output gear is substantially inaccessible from the gear bay.   
     
     
         11 . The transmission of  claim 1 , further comprising a transaxle; wherein the transaxle mechanically couples a first axle and a second axle. 
     
     
         12 . The transmission of  claim 1 , wherein the adapters have a substantially hexagonal cross section. 
     
     
         13 . The transmission of  claim 1 , wherein the adapters have a substantially triangular cross section. 
     
     
         14 . The transmission of  claim 1 , wherein the adapters have a substantially cruciform cross section. 
     
     
         15 . The transmission of  claim 1 , further comprising a gear bay door selectively installable to at least partially cover the gear bay. 
     
     
         16 . The transmission of  claim 15 , wherein the gear bay door is at least one of translucent and transparent. 
     
     
         17 . The transmission of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the shafts is movable. 
     
     
         18 . The transmission of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one light directed into the gear bay. 
     
     
         19 . The transmission of  claim 18 , wherein the light is adapted to turn on when the motor is activated. 
     
     
         20 . The transmission of  claim 1 ,
 wherein at least two of the replaceable gears are located behind a removable plate;   wherein at least two of the replaceable gears are located in front of the removable plate; and   wherein the removable plate may be installed and removed via the gear bay.